Reader Challenge

Happy Saturday!


A few weeks ago when Nancy and I did a little challenge, we went on a little shopping trip together to Michaels and bought all the same beads.  We thought it would be fun to create something with the beads, in our own way, and then blog the results. We called it a challenge but really the only challenge was each of us using the same beads with the same ground rules on what we could add. It's not really a challenge, there is not judging or prizes. The response from readers was huge so, I thought it might be fun to do it again on the blog and ask that the readers who want to participate- buy the same beads.


So last night after work I headed over to Michaels, and picked out several strands. I went with an earthy color palette, but picked a color that people don't generally use in jewelry: WHITE! That might be the challenge for some of you!


Here are the goods I picked out. The beads were actually on sale 30%, and I believe this sale ends on Sunday, and next week's ad says they'll be 40% off! So, it's worth it to get your beads on Monday so you can take advantage of that sale. Unless you have a coupon, and then you could probably get even more of a deal.  The beads are all from the bead gallery. But the chain is from the Bead landing line. It's not with these beads, it was in another aisle. If you can't find it, just use a different chain.


I picked, white enamel coated chain, small green freshwater pearls, carved wood cubes, large white freshwater pearls,  new jade rounds, and a strand each of white and brown carved cinnabar coins.


So here are some rules. You must use the beads shown here, and you can add in up to 2 additional bead types to your design.  Create a necklace with the beads, using your own choice of focal. The clasp can be your own choosing, doesn't have to be handmade, but can be if you want it to. The necklace can be any design you like, using any technique- that'll be the fun part of of the whole thing- to see what different things you can do with these same beads.




Let's set a date for reveal our necklaces for Sunday Oct 17th. I know that's not a lot of time but I want to maintain interest and if we wait too long, people might forget about it.  


If you are interested in play along, leave a comment here and throw up the link to your blogs so that I can check them all out.  I was trying to think of a way to do a blog hop, and I could do that as long as I have everyone's blog address, so make sure you give that to me in your comment.


If you want to play but don't have a blog, feel free to email your pics to me and I'll put them in a blog post to show them off.




Hope this sounds fun- I am looking forward to creating something with these new goodies, and seeing what everyone else did with them too! Have fun with it!

Comments

  1. Hi Lorelei,
    I would like to play along. here is my blog link
    www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
    if you want to do a blog hop you could use the inlinz tool that BOC is going to use for our Open Studio event on 10/24. Marsha found it for us.
    Here is the url
    http://www.inlinkz.com/?refId=1510

    and this is such a sweet challenge--love it. the 10th seems very soon though.

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  2. Anonymous10/02/2010

    Lorelei,
    I'd like to join in. Here is my blog. http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/
    This will be fun! Thanks!
    Hilary

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  3. Fun! I will be checking it out, but cannot enter as Michael's is not in The Netherlands and won't ship there anyway.

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  4. My blog is www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
    I would love to participate.
    Shannon

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  5. Oh Lorelei~ I would so love to play but I will have to wait til the next one! I can't wait to see what others make though so I will be tuning in!!!

    This is fun!

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  6. I love a challenge count me in !!!

    My blog is

    http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com/

    I'm off to Micheals : )

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  7. *If you sign up for Michaels emails this week is friends and family week and you can get a 20% off your total purchase coupon ( I think it ends today )*

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  8. I'm going to do my best to play, having surgery on the 5th so we'll see how it goes. I'll go buy the beads though, I love your selection. Here's my blog http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/

    I hope I can make it work!!
    Kristi

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  9. Count me in! A few additional questions: Do you have to uses some of each type of bead or not? How much of your own stash can you use? Thanks!

    My blog is Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings. http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/

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  10. HI Linda!
    Yes try to use all the beads that I show here.
    and you can use up to 2 different bead types from your stash. so if you want to add amber beads, that would be 1. and if you want to add additional chain in a different metal that would be two.

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  11. I'm in - what fun!!!

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  12. Hey! I'm thinking of playing along. Depends if I can make it into town to go to the Michael's or not.

    You should think about listing the product codes on the backs so that people get the exact same beads. Michael's has a standardized product line, so all of the same ones should be available.

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  13. I'm in.
    I'm walking over to Michaels right now. (Yes, I live right near a Michaels. Kinda dangerous)

    tynebodennecklaces.blogspot.com

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  14. What fun! Count me in. I already picked up some of these strands a couple of weeks ago when they had them for 40% off. Just one question does the focal count as one of the two additional beads? My blog is havanabeads.blogspot.com.

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  15. I'm thinking about joining in, Lorelei. You know how I love a good challenge. ;-)

    I was just at Michael's. Drats. Maybe I can get back there to find these things.

    Thanks for the inspiration.

    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  16. Hi Lorelei - count me in as well! My blog is: http://www.beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com.

    Great inspiration - I'll head to Michael's this afternoon!

    :-)Molly

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  17. AWESOME! I'm in. What a great collection of beads you have chosen. And that white chain .... Mary Harding is such a lovely lady and has offered to get the things for me and send them to Sweden. Looking forward. All my best to everyone.
    Malin

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  18. Might join in. This will be super Great!! I cant wait to see the Results!!!

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  19. I have always wished that we had a Michaels....but know I REEEAAALLY wish we had one! Makes me say bad words in my head! I will be looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with, and dreaming of my own designs in my head! Love the idea! Have fun!

    Warmly,
    Leslie

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  20. I just picked up the supplies at Michaels - hope to participate. As a beadweaver it should be interesting. Thanks Lorelei Anne

    annepomeroydixon.blogspot.com

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  21. Anonymous10/02/2010

    Awesome -- white chain is definitely a challenge ingredient for me, but I'd love to see what can be done with such a nice selection.

    www.gr8findings.wordpress.com

    Thanks, Lorelei!

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  22. I'm going to try this! My blog is

    deborahmpurdy.blogspot.com

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  23. cool interactive activity ... like that you are trying this again :)

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  24. Oh it sounds like a blast! Unfortunatly I won't be making it to the nearest Michaels in time to participate. I do hope you will be doing this again so I can play along. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

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  25. i'm going to play along.
    the local michaels was out of the square and brown coin wooden beads, the supply truck comes in on monday night..so i'm headed back for the rest.

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  26. My Michaels was also out of the carved cubes and the chocolate cinnabar, but had everything else.

    Ann
    http://mycriticaleye.com

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  27. How I wish I had a Michaels over here and could play along! I can't wait to see what you guys all com eup with - love your selection of beads, not things I would have necessarily chosen but they look absolutely delicious together!

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  28. No Michael's here in the UK but I look forward to seeing what you creative souls make using the same beads, this was a great idea. Have fun everyone.

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  29. GOSH! I feel so bad that so many of you want to play and can't.
    I think that the next time I'll do this, I'll order beads from an online source instead. If you have suggestions of where we should shop from, let me know!

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  30. Sounds like a lot of fun. Wish I could play along, but I'll be watching.

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  31. I am in and have blogged about it. My Michaels was out of the pearls, both kinds. I think that I have small green and know that I have white. Is this ok?

    Courtney

    http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/

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  32. Hi Courtney! yep that's totally cool with me! if you can substitute the beads for beads you have, go ahead!

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  33. Hello - what a great idea. I will be waiting to see all the beatiful things people will create. Wish I could join in the fun...maybe next time.

    Jenny

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  34. I'm in - blogged about it tonight and will head to Michael's tomorrow. http://beadsforbusygals.blogspot.com/2010/10/reader-challenge-from-lorelei.html

    What fun!

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  35. I couldn't resist your color combo so I stopped by today & bought my supplies. They didn't have brown cinnabar beads, only black so I bought those instead. Same pattern though. Hopefully I can get something made in time. My blog is http://jsmaz.artfire.com/blog.

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  36. Hi, about suggestions for online shops that would work I am thinking Fusion Beads or Lima Beads. 

    They both have a wide selection of supplies. And probably don't get short too often. And when I have ordered from them they deliver quickly all the way to Sweden, Europe. 

    More suggestions are BelloModo, Ornamentea, HappyMangoBeads. 

    Another idea: perhaps we/you could ask for a collaboration with a shop also. Your friend Erin works in a bead shop doesn't she. Do they have an on-line shop? Otherwise any of the above mentioned maybe would work too. Just an idea.

    All my best,
    Malin

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  37. Great idea Lorelei! Count me in as well. I will stop at Michael's on my way home from work tonight!!
    If I find all the beads, my blog is http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com

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  38. Lorelei:

    I would like to join in the party too! You have already inspired my family and I to host our own challenge with each other. Thanks for the inspiration.

    PS: is it ok that I included your link on my blog? I hope so, but I'm new to the whole what is and isn't proper.

    Here is the link to my blog:
    http://nayasorganizedchaos.blogspot.com/

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  39. Lorelei, I'd love to participate, but... I was in Michaels yesterday and wasn't sure which of the white pearls, and which size of white chain, and which pattern of the cinnabar beads, etc. to buy. Would you mind including the product codes for us? If I can make it back to Michaels this week, then you can count me in. My blog is brand new (literally only signed up a few days ago), not ready for public consumption yet. But I'll send you a link in a week or so when it's in better shape. Thanks for thinking of the challenge -- sounds like FUN!!!

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  40. sounds like so much fun! And I think I already have a couple of those strands of beads. Bonus ;o)

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  41. Whew!
    I just read your post about substituting beads for this challenge and am a little relieved. I found all but the brown cinnabar and the white chain at my closest Michael's. I'm heading the next town over tomorrow and will be checking there too. I didn't want to commit myself until I was sure I had all the supplies, but since you've relaxed the rules, I'm going to go ahead and say I'M IN!!!
    My blog is: CraftyHope.blogspot.com

    I can't wait to see what everyone else (and you) come up with. I'm loving these beads though!

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  42. I have the beads now. I'm in!
    http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/

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  43. I couldn't find all the beads, so I used what I could get and some similar beads.

    I'm over at http://jamberrysong.blogspot.com

    :)

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  44. Got all the stuff today! I'll be joining. Don't have a blog so I'll be emailing you photos. Look forward to seeing everyones creations. Thanks Tami W.

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  45. After a busy week, I was so glad to get to Michael's today! I'm in!!!

    www.peacockfairy.blogspot.com

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  46. Wow! What a great response you got! I bought my beads today and can't wait to see what everyone makes! My blog is: http://elysianstudiosart.blogspot.com/
    Thanks for organizing this Lorelei!

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  47. I know I am chiming in late, but I am going to try to get these beads tomorrow and get something done by Sunday! My blog addy is:
    http://designsbydebi.blogspot.com
    Yay!

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  48. Sue and Danny O'Mullan10/14/2010

    Hi~ I think I'll go to Michaels today and try to get all of the beads pictured. If available, please count us in! I will transfer the directions (rules) into pictures for my son. The only help he will need will be with the clasp. If he follows and uses all the beads - I will send a photo. Long story short - he has an etsy account (with nothing for sale)... We started on this journey b/c he loves to bead!!! Then he started to give his creations away to eldery individuals who have altzheimers. I thought perhaps some pieces could go up for sale in an etsy account, however, each and every time he completes something, we give it away! dannylions@etsy.com
    If Michaels have the beads and if he follows the rules...

    FYI - on many days he makes up his own rules....
    autism at its finest!!!!

    Hopefully we are in!!!! Sounds like fun and something he may really "understand"!!!

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